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Greenpeace says Abbot Point port dredging underestimated

Greenpeace says the State Government is planning to quadruple dredging plans at Abbot Point at Bowen in north Queensland.

The State Government is examining a proposal to dredge three million cubic metres of spoil to make way for the coal terminal expansion, south of Townsville.

However, Greenpeace says it has done its own analysis that shows the port operator will need to dredge 13 million cubic metres of spoil.

Greenpeace spokeswoman Louise Mathieson says the group commissioned its own report because it does not trust the State Government.

"I don't think we're exaggerating it when it clearly has Queensland Government backing and I think they've been quite sneaky in progressing with the proposal without giving the project solid figures about how much dredging will be needed," she said.

"We've done our own sums and worked out that the amount of dredging that will be needed to build that port is at least 13 million tonnes.

"That's about seven MCGs [Melbourne Cricket Grounds] worth of seabed being dug up and either disposed of in the marine park or on land."

However, Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney says in a statement he has dismissed the claims as scaremongering.

He says no final decision about dredging has been made.

Mr Seeney says any port expansion will be subject to strict environmental investigations.